beauty diy | brightening apple mask

June 15, 2015

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At any given time, my kitchen is always stocked with green apples. I love the tart tang of them on my tastebuds, and it’s only fitting that my skin also responds well to topical treatment with this perfect fruit.

A handmade approach to a popular green apple mask (which I also adore for its brightening effects), this DIY Brightening Apple Mask gently lightens and brightens skin — and smells quite fresh.

I like to use this mask after a weekend of fun in the sun, followed by a moisturizing coconut-infused cream that keeps my skin dreaming of the ocean and sunshine while repairing my skin before another full week at work.

This is the second excerpt from a new beauty DIY book,Natural Beauty Alchemy, that keeps me inspired to tap into my inner DIY goddess. (See the first recipe in this series!)

Note: This is a not a series of sponsored posts. This book is wonderful, and I found the recipes approachable. I reached out to the publicist to get permission to share these recipes with you because I thought you’d enjoy them as much as I do!

Brightening Apple Mask

This mask relies on the wonderful effects of fruits and is recommended for skin with blemishes or sunspots to reverse sun damage, especially at the end of the summer season.

Apples are rich in vitamin C, which is a documented skin-brightening agent. Citrus fruits are also supreme sources of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). When combined with cranberry seed oil, which is high in sun-protective antioxidants, these ingredients will reverse time on challenged skin.

Make this mask twice a week, for two or three weeks to unify skin tone, and always follow with sunscreen.

Ingredients:

gauze strips

1 freshly grated peeled green apple

1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin

½ teaspoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon cranberry seed oil

1–2 tablespoons rice flour

Note: Honey can be used instead of glycerin

Instructions

1. Prepare gauze strips by laying gauze in double layers and cutting four rectangles for the forehead and neck and four circles for the cheeks.

2. Mix the above ingredients, adding as much rice flour as needed to prevent dripping. Then spread the mix like sandwich filling between double gauze layers and apply to your forehead, neck, and cheeks.

3. Sit in a reclining chair and wait for 10 minutes before removing the gauze strips and rinsing your face with lukewarm water.